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S. B. No. 2038 *SS26/R7CS.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Corrections
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Brumfield
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 2038
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE "OUR HOUSE RESIDENTIAL MULTI-SERVICE 1
CENTER PROGRAM" AT THE CWC IN PIKE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, AS A PILOT 2
INITIATIVE WITHIN THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO 3
PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO RETURNING CITIZENS; TO SET FORTH 4
CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM; TO 5
OUTLINE PROGRAM STRUCTURE, SERVICES AND PHASES; TO IDENTIFY 6
EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE MISSISSIPPI 7
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE 8
BUDGET OFFICE, TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE 9
DETAILING PROGRAM OUTCOMES, PARTICIPANT PROGRESS AND FINANCIAL 10
SAVINGS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THAT AN 11
INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS BE CONDUCTED 12
EVERY TWO YEARS TO ASSESS ITS IMPACT ON RECIDIVISM AND OVERALL 13
COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 14
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 15
SECTION 1. Establishment of the Our House Residential 16
Multi-Service Center Program. (1) For purposes of this act, 17
"program" shall mean the Our House Residential Multi-Service 18
Center Program, which is hereby established as a pilot initiative 19
within the Mississippi Department of Corrections at the CWC in 20
Pike County. 21
(2) The program shall provide comprehensive services to 22
returning citizens, under community supervision, for at least two 23
(2) years following release from incarceration. 24
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SECTION 2. Program eligibility. To be eligible for the 25
program, individuals must meet all of the following criteria: 26
(a) Be unemployed and willing to accept work; 27
(b) Be homeless or in an "at-risk" environment; 28
(c) Be willing to contribute to their room, board and 29
transportation based on a graduated model (initially twenty-five 30
percent (25%) to thirty percent (30%), increasing to a maximum of 31
fifty percent (50%). In addition to the contribution to the 32
expense of the program, each member shall be required to 33
contribute twenty-five percent (25%) into a correctional inmate 34
savings account, which is a secure, facility-managed account that 35
holds an inmate's funds for daily purchases, such as food or 36
hygiene products, and for savings. Money for savings accounts may 37
come from cash possessed upon arrival, work pay, or deposits from 38
family and friends. Savings accounts may be managed by the 39
facility or by private, third-party services; 40
(d) Have no convictions for violent crimes, sex crimes 41
or arson; 42
(e) Be physically and mentally capable of self-care; 43
(f) Agree to participate in anti-narcotic testing; 44
(g) Comply with program rules and service plans; and 45
(h) Not receive or apply for Supplemental Security 46
Income (SSI) or other financial assistance. 47
SECTION 3. Program structure and services. (1) The program 48
shall be delivered through a multidisciplinary treatment team 49
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consisting of security staff, community mental health therapists, 50
substance use disorder counselors, probation officers and parole 51
officers. 52
(2) Program services shall include: 53
(a) Employment assistance and job development; 54
(b) Housing support and transportation services; 55
(c) Food and healthcare provisions; and 56
(d) Community linkages and aftercare support. 57
(3) Participants shall be referred to as "members" and will 58
actively contribute to the therapeutic community, fostering 59
ownership of their recovery journey. 60
SECTION 4. Program phases. (1) The program will be 61
structured into phases as follows: 62
(a) Phase One: Orientation and Assessment. 63
(i) Duration: Thirty (30) days. 64
(ii) Focus: Stabilization and adjustment. 65
(iii) Activities: Initial assessments, attendance 66
in core groups, required journaling, and substance abuse 67
counseling. 68
(b) Phase Two: Self-discovery. 69
(i) Duration: Minimum thirty (30) days. 70
(ii) Focus: Goal completion as per individualized 71
service plans. 72
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(iii) Activities: Continued substance 73
abuse/mental health education, participation in community passes 74
with family, and job-readiness preparation. 75
(c) Phase Three: Workforce Development. 76
(i) Duration: Up to ninety (90) days. 77
(ii) Focus: Job search and maintaining recovery 78
consistency. 79
(iii) Activities: Job search completion, 80
budgeting, and community integration. 81
(d) Phase Four: Transitional/Re-entry. 82
(i) Duration: Maximum thirty (30) days. 83
(ii) Focus: Preparation for community 84
reintegration. 85
(iii) Activities: Continued education, realistic 86
discharge planning, and establishing housing. 87
(e) Phase Five: Aftercare Services. 88
(i) Duration: Sixty (60) to ninety (90) days. 89
(ii) Focus: Ongoing support post-residential 90
phase. 91
(iii) Activities: Continued access to services 92
from earlier phases, excluding meals and lodging. 93
(2) Members shall be required to complete all five (5) 94
phases of the program. The member shall agree to complete all 95
phases in writing when the member is accepted into the program. 96
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ST: Our House Residential Multi-Service Center;
establish as a pilot initiative at CWC in Pike
County.
SECTION 5. Expected outcomes. The program aims to 97
significantly reduce recidivism rates among participants, creating 98
a positive impact on community safety and well-being. The program 99
is projected to avoid significant expenditures each year by 100
facilitating successful re-entry and reducing reliance on state 101
resources. 102
SECTION 6. Reporting and evaluation. (1) In conjunction 103
with the Legislative Budget Office, the Mississippi Department of 104
Corrections shall provide an annual report to the Legislature 105
detailing program outcomes, participant progress, and financial 106
savings achieved through the program. 107
(2) An independent evaluation of the program's effectiveness 108
shall be conducted every two (2) years to assess its impact on 109
recidivism and overall community reintegration. 110
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from 111
and after its passage. 112